Tag Archive | "George McPhee"

Another night of stellar offensive play from the Capitals, who were blanked in Pittsburgh on Tuesday evening, 2-0.

It’s not closing time yet for Washington and their playoff chances, but the bartender is “flicking the lights on and off” to let you know last call is just a few minutes away.

And then, maybe for the first time ever, the organization – under Ted Leonsis at least – has an off-season of real, true soul searching to do before putting together a plan for 2014-2015.

What to do with General Manager George McPhee, who has drawn plenty of disdain over the last few years from D.C.’s hockey faithful.

Is Adam Oates the coach they thought he would be and, if not, do you make a move in his department?

And, the big question: What’s the future hold for Alexander Ovechkin?

More importantly, the real question: Is it time for the Caps to consider going in a new direction that starts WITHOUT Ovechkin?

Anytime I bring up Ovechkin’s name and the word “trade” in the same sentence with people who follow hockey, they look at me like I have three heads.

I always follow up that look by asking: “Tell me what he’s done…”

“He’s scored a ton of goals,” is always the first reply.

“OK,” I say. “What else?”

Go ahead…what else?

Name the players in the Caps organization who have been here alongside Ovechkin that are better for having played with him. I’ll be here waiting.

Go ahead…go through the list of players who have been in D.C. during the “Ovie years” that #8 made better as a hockey player.

I’m still waiting.

And I’m not, absolutely NOT, saying to just dump him for a bag of pucks and some Southwest Airlines tickets.

Not at all.

What I am saying, though, is the time has come to consider a new direction for the Caps.

Please note the word “consider” there.

I watch Ovechkin night in and night out and I marvel at how one dimensional he’s become. He’s -27 this season, which means he’s been on the ice in even strength situations for TWENTY SEVEN more goals against the Caps than for the Caps.

How has the so-called “best offensive player in hockey” (cough, cough) found himself on the ice for 27 more goals against his team than goals scored FOR his team?

That’s incredibly telling.

I’m not looking to punish Ovechkin for one season of mediocre Caps hockey, either. Lots of other players are worthy of blame, including Mike Green, who continues to play far beneath the level a player of his contract status should.

In baseball terms, what the Caps want from Ovechkin is their own version of Derek Jeter. A winner. A player who makes others around him better. Someone who comes through when the games matter most.

Instead, the Caps have an Alex with their own Alex — Alex Rodriguez.

I’ll take Jeter.

I just wish the Caps had one of those kind of players in Ovechkin.

And, since they don’t, I’ll just ask again: Is it time for the Capitals to move in a different direction in the off-season and proceed without The Great Eight?

ARLINGTON, Va. – Kettler Capitals Iceplex, the official practice facility of the Washington Capitals, will host the 2013 United States Olympic Men’s National Team Orientation Camp from Aug. 25-29, Capitals vice president and general manager George McPhee, Kettler Capitals Iceplex and USA Hockey announced today.

The camp is designed to assist in the preparation of the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team that will compete at the XXII Olympic Winter Games to be held from Feb. 7-23, 2014, in Sochi, Russia.

“We are thrilled that Kettler Capitals Iceplex has been chosen by USA Hockey to host their 2013 U.S. Men’s National Team Orientation Camp,” said McPhee. “This selection is a testament to the growing popularity of hockey in the Washington area and we feel there is no better place to hold the U.S. Olympic camp than the Nation’s capital.”

Details surrounding the five-day orientation camp will be released by the Capitals and USA Hockey at a later date.

“This is a great recognition of how far we have come as a hockey community in the last decade,” said Capitals assistant general manager Don Fishman. “The Capitals have enjoyed tremendous support from our great fans and our youth hockey programs have continued to grow with record numbers. We are excited to have the opportunity to host the U.S. National team at our practice facility in Arlington.”

The Washington Capitals ushered in a new era for the franchise in 2006 with the opening of Kettler Capitals Iceplex, a community ice rink in Arlington, Va., that serves as the Capitals’ training facility and home to the team’s administrative offices. The 137,000-square-foot facility includes two NHL-size ice rinks with seating for approximately 1,200, office space, two pro shops, a snack bar, media facilities and additional space for special events. The 20,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art training center for the Capitals features a large weight and fitness room, extensive athletic-training and medical facilities, spacious locker-room and lounge areas, a theater-style classroom and a high-tech video room.

Kettler Capitals Iceplex hosted Capitals training camp for the sixth year in 2012. It has also played host to five Capitals summer development camps and the unveiling of the team’s new logos and jerseys in 2007.

The facility is the first indoor ice rink inside the Capitol Beltway in Virginia and just the second facility of its kind anywhere inside the Beltway (Ft. Dupont Ice Rink in D.C. is the other). The two ice sheets offer an estimated 12,000 hours of ice time per year for use by youth, high school and college hockey teams, figure skating, synchronized skating, recreational skating, learn-to-skate programs and hockey and broomball. The Washington Little Capitals, a top tier 1 program, play at the facility as well as the recently developed Capitals Academy Travel teams and Rooftop Hockey House League.

In June, USA Hockey named the Kettler Capitals as one of four USA Hockey Model Association programs.

With the designation, the four organizations have committed to follow the American Development Model (ADM) in full at the 8-and-under, 10-and-under and 12-and-under age groups. The ADM is based on age-appropriate training to fully benefit children in their hockey and overall athletic development.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals will face the Boston Bruins in the second Baltimore Hockey Classic on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2013, at 7 p.m. at 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Capitals general manager George McPhee, 1st Mariner Arena/SMG general manager Frank Remesch and president of the Baltimore City Council Bernard C. “Jack” Young announced today.

“Baltimore is a great hockey market with a long hockey tradition and we are excited to make our return to 1st Mariner Arena next season,” said Capitals president Dick Patrick.

The inaugural Baltimore Hockey Classic, which featured the Nashville Predators and Washington Capitals kicking off the Capitals’ 2011-12 preseason schedule, sold out as the capacity crowd of 11,082 fans enjoyed the first professional hockey game played in Baltimore since 1997.

Every Washington Capitals full season-account holder will have the opportunity to purchase tickets for the Baltimore Hockey Classic beginning Wednesday, May 1, at 10 a.m. Details on ticket availability and pricing will be sent to full season-ticket holders when they become available. All other fans interested in attending the event are encouraged to purchase their tickets when they go on sale on Friday, May 3, at 10 a.m.

Following their 5-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday the Capitals clinched their sixth-straight playoff berth and their fifth Southeast Division title in the last six seasons. The Capitals six straight playoff appearances are tied for the fourth-longest active playoff streak in the NHL and they are one of only two teams (Vancouver) to have won five division titles in the last six seasons. In addition, the Capitals playoff streak marks the longest streak of playoff appearances in franchise history since their 14-straight postseason trips from the 1982-83 season through 1995-96.

The Capitals are led by captain Alex Ovechkin who currently leads the league with 32 goals this season, marking the eighth consecutive season that Ovechkin has tallied 30 or more goals. Ovechkin is the only player in the NHL to have recorded 30 or more goals in each season since 2005-06 and is one of just nine players in NHL history to score 30 goals in each of his first eight seasons in the league.

The Washington Capitals called Landover, Md., home from 1974-1997. They played their home games at the Capital Centre before moving to downtown Washington, D.C., for the 1997-98 season.

From 1981-1993, Baltimore was home to the Skipjacks, a minor league affiliate that began in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League and then moved to the American Hockey League. The Jacks were affiliated with the Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals before moving to Portland, Maine, after the 1992-93 season. Former Capitals legends Don Beaupre and Olie Kolzig, to name a few, spent some of their minor league careers in Baltimore. The Baltimore Bandits, AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks, played at 1st Mariner Arena from 1995-97.

The 1st Mariner Arena, formerly the Baltimore Arena, is Baltimore’s largest indoor venue and entertainment facility and has long been considered an anchor that contributed to the growth and prosperity of Baltimore. The arena opened in 1962 and was the cornerstone of the Baltimore Inner Harbor redevelopment. It hosts an average of 130 events and more than 800,000 guests come through the turnstiles annually.

For more information on The Baltimore Classic or 1st Mariner Arena, please visit www.WashingtonCaps.com or www.1stMarinerArena.com.

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ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have named Tim Hunter the team’s assistant coach, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.

Hunter, 51, has coached 1,041 games in an assistant role during his 13-season NHL coaching career. The former Stanley Cup winner was an assistant coach under Ron Wilson in all 13 previous seasons, including five years behind the Washington bench (1997-2002). Hunter helped the Capitals reach the Stanley Cup final in 1998 and the team reached the postseason in three of his five seasons with Washington, compiling a record of 192-159-51-8 (.540 percentage). Hunter coached current Capitals head coach Adam Oates, associate goaltending coach Olie Kolzig and assistant coach Calle Johansson during his tenure in Washington.

The Calgary, Alberta, native has a career coaching record of 499-394-70-84 with Washington, San Jose (2002-2008) and Toronto (2008-2011).

As a player Hunter played 16 seasons (1981-1997) in the NHL for Calgary, Quebec, Vancouver and San Jose. He won a Stanley Cup in 1989 when he was a member of the Calgary Flames. In 815 career NHL games the 6’2”, 200-pound right wing tallied 138 points (62 goals, 76 assists) along with 3,146 penalty minutes. He ranks eighth in all-time career NHL penalty minutes and still holds the Flames’ all-time franchise record with 2,405 minutes in penalties. He was originally selected by the Atlanta Flames in the third round (54th overall) of the 1979 NHL Entry Draft.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have re-signed defenseman Mike Green to a three-year, $18.25 million contract extension, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today. Green will earn $6 million in 2012-13 and 2013-14 and $6.25 million in 2014-15.

“We are pleased to re-sign Mike Green to a new contract,” said McPhee. “Mike is one of the best young defensemen in the National Hockey League and is just entering his prime. He will continue to be a key part of our team moving forward.”

Green, 26, recorded seven points (three goals, four assists) and was a plus-five in 32 games with the Capitals last season. He finished the regular season ranked third on Washington in time on ice per game, skating an average of 21:02 per contest. Green missed 47 games due to injury in 2011-12. The blueliner added two goals and two assists as well as a plus-five rating in 14 postseason games with the Capitals, ranking second in points among Washington defensemen and tied for second on the team in playoff plus/minus.

The Calgary, Alberta, native has collected 251 points (82 goals, 169 assists) and a plus-62 rating in 398 career NHL games, all with Washington. He is one of just two active defensemen (Erik Karlsson) in the league to have registered a 70-point season and is the only active defenseman to have recorded two seasons of 70 points or more. Since the 2007-08 season, Green ranks fourth among NHL blueliners in points (236), second in goals (79) and his 0.77 points per game lead the league. The 6’1”, 207-pound defenseman is a two-time member of the NHL First All-Star Team and is a two-time Norris Trophy runner up. He was named to his first NHL All-Star Game in 2010-11 and was a finalist in back-to-back years (2010 and 2011) for the NHL Foundation Player Award, which is given to the player who applies the core values of hockey – commitment, perseverance and teamwork – to enrich the lives of people in his community.

Green currently ranks seventh all-time in points by a Capitals defenseman and sixth in goals. His six overtime goals rank second all-time in Capitals history behind only Alex Ovechkin (12) and his plus-62 rating ranks tied for 12th. He is one of only three Capitals blueliners to have recorded 70 or more points in a single season (Larry Murphy, Kevin Hatcher and Scott Stevens) and one of just two defensemen to have scored 30 or more goals in a single campaign (Hatcher).

Green was originally drafted by Washington in the first round (29th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He won a Calder Cup championship with Hershey of the American Hockey League in 2006 and helped the team reach the finals the following year (2007). Green won a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2008 World Championships, recording the most points by a defenseman (12) while being named to the tournament all-star team. Green was named to the NHL Young Stars roster in 2006-07 after being named to the AHL All-Rookie Team in 2005-06 while with Hershey. Green spent a little more than four seasons with the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League (WHL) and helped Canada win a gold medal at the 2003 U-18 World Junior Championships.